Retractable step for vehicles



May 24, 1938. G. w. HAMILTON 2,118,557

RETRACTABLE STEP FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 17, 1936 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETRACTABLE STEP FORVEHICLES City, M0.

Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,359

5 Claims.

This invention relates to retractable steps, and particularly toretractable steps suitable for use on vehicles wherein it is desirableto retract the step to a position whereby it will be less apt to beinterfered with during the moving of the vehicle.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a retractablestep having means whereby the step is secured in the extended orretracted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a retractable stephaving operating means adaptable to be moved in one direction to releasethe step securing means and to move said step to the desired position.

Other objects are simplicity and sturdiness of construction and ease andaccuracy of operation.

With these and other objects, which will appear during the course of thespecification, in View, reference will now be had to the drawing,wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a retractable step embodying thisinvention, with parts shown in dotted lines to indicate the retractedposition.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the step shown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of the step securingmechanism shown in two positions, and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line VV` of Fig. 4.

Like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the severalviews, and the numeral IU indicates a frame or support which might bethe platform of a vehicle, to which the step of this invention leads.Also, this retractable step might be the lower step of a series ofsteps.

Swingably mounted by means of spaced-apart links I2 is a step I4. Thelinks I2 are pivoted at I6 to standards: I 8 which are securely attachedto support I8. Rigidly secured to the outer ends of links I2 is atransverse shaft 20 which serves as a pivotal member for the step asshown. When the step is in the operative or extended position as shownin Fig. 3, it is supported in this position by means of stops 22 thatare secured to shaft 2l) by means of pins 24. As the step is swung tothe retracted position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the stops 22move away from the step and springs 26 secured to the rear edge of thestep contact the under side of support I to hold the step in asubstantially hori- Zontal position beneath the support. 'Ihese springs26 also set up a tension between the parts, thereby eliminating much ofthe rattling, which might occur during the moving of the vehicle.

Rotatably mounted to the rear Vof step in brackets 28 carried by supportI0, is a shaft 3D, on which is rigidly secured a rocker arm 32. Aradially disposed arm 34 is securely attached to each end of shaft 20. Aconnecting bar 36 at each side of the step is p-ivotally connected bypivot 38 at its one end to arm 34 and by pivot 40 at its other end tolink I2 intermediate its ends. In order to obtain proper leverage forthe movement of link I2, bar 36 is pivoted to the forwardly projectingboss 42 of link I2. The step I4 is urged to a position against stops 22by springs 44.

As clearly shown, the step is provided with down-turned end aprons 46,each of which is provided with a longitudinal slot 48. Each of theseslots is` provided with a slidably mounted trunnion 50 that is securelymounted in one end of guide bar 52. The other end of bar 52 is mountedon pivot 38. Since the movement of arm 34 and link I2 is different, itis apparent that as the step is moved to and from the operative positionthe trunnion 50 will move along slot 4I), and due to the relativepositions of bar 52 and shaft 2D, step I4 cannot move from asubstantially horizontal position during its travel to or from theoperative position.

The means for oscillating shaft 36 through rocker arm 32 and the meansfor securing the step in the operative and retracted or inoperativeposition, are interconnected and will be considered together.

An operating rod 54 is secured at its inner end to a spring housing 56,in which is mounted a block 58 on a pin 60, carried by the lower end 59of rocker arm 32. Between the block and each of the opposite inner endwalls of housing 56 is spring 6I which tends to maintain the block in aiixed position in the housing. However, under certain conditions, ashereinafter set forth, the operating rod and housing may be moved apredetermined distance against the action of springs 6I withoutoscillating the rocker arm 32. Whenever the rocker arm 32 is oscillated,shaft 36, together with arm 34, will oscillate through similar arcs andthe links I2 will swing on pivot I6, due to the connecting bar 36.4Pivotally connected at 62 to the forward end of housing 56 is an L-shaped link 64 which is pivoted at 66 to the centrai portion of slidebar 68. Slide bar 68 is mounted on a vertically disposed plate 10,carried by support |0, by means of pins 12 passing through slots 14formed through the bar. Slots l are of suiiicient length to permitmovement of the parts to allow full operation of the step to and fromthe operative and retracted positions.

Pivotally mounted in the upper end 14 of rocker arm 32 is a link 'l'6which is interconnected with a slide bar 18 mounted for reciprocationagainst the lower surface of support I0 and held in position by guide 80and the plate '10.

The upper face oi slide bar 68 is provided with oppositely disposed,spaced-apart, beveled shoulders 82 and 64 respectively. Also, slide bar'I8 is provided with spaced-apart stop pins 86 and 88 which dependtherefrom.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, which clearly show the parts when thestep is in the operative position, it will be noted that a pawl 90,pivoted at 92 to plate l0, is formed at 94 to contact the beveledshoulder 82, while the opposite end 96 thereof engages pin 86. When theparts are so positioned it is apparent that the step cannot be movedfrom the operative position by any pressure exerted against the step,due to the fact that slide bar 'i8 is secured against any forwardmovement by pawl 90 engaging pin 86. When it is desired to retract thestep, the operator simply pulls rearwardly on operating rod 54, whichmoves the housing and its associated parts against the action of spring60, so that as slide bar 68 is moved rearwardly, the pawl Si! isoscillated about 92 by the raising of 94 on the inclined shoulder 82,and 96 disengages pin 86, so that bar 'I8 is free to move outwardly andpermit oscillation of shaft and the resultant movement of the step fromthe operative position. This released position is clearly Shown indotted lines in Fig. 4. When the step is in the retracted position,panel 08 is so positioned on pin |00 that its forward end |02 willengage stop pin 98 while its rearwardly inclined end |04 will engage thebeveled shoulder 64 of slide bar 68.

It is evident that likewise, when the step is thus secured in theretracted position it cannot be moved from that position by any pressureexerted against the step. However, it can be moved by simply exerting anoutward pressure against operating rod 54, which will iirst cause therelease of bar I8, then the movement of the step to the operativeposition.

Ends 96 and |02 of the pawls are respectively provided with protrudingpins |06 and |08 under which rest a spring ||0, carried by plate l0,that tends to urge said pawls against slide bar 18.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that a, means for operatingrod E4 is provided. A cylinder ||2, pivoted at ||4, is adapted toreceive a piston 6 secured on the end of rod 54. A iiuid pressure pipe8, having a suitable control valve |20, makes it possible to selectivelydischarge pressure fluid through pipe |22 or pipe |24 located atopposite ends of the cylinder. A valve operating means |26 may extendthrough the platform for convenience of operation. Manual means or anyother mechanical means might be used to operate rod 54 without departingfrom the novel features of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A retractable step for vehicles comprising a support; a stepswingably mounted on spacedapart links pivotally carried by saidsupport; means for moving said step to and from the operative position,said means including a compressible spring member operable whereby saidmember is movable through a predetermined distance without moving saidstep; and securing means associated with said first named means operableby the initial movement of said compressible spring member to releasesaid step moving means to permit movement of the step to or from theoperative position.

2. A retractable step for vehicles comprising a support; a stepswingably mounted on spacedapart links pivotally carried by saidsupport; means resiliently interconnected with said step adapted to moveit to and from the operative position; means associated with said firstnamed means whereby said step is secured in the operative andinoperative position; and said first named means being operable to rstrelease said securing means and move the step to the desired position.

3. A retractable step for vehicles, comprising a support; a stepswingably carried by said support; reciprocating means for moving saidstep to and from the operative position; means associated with saidmoving means to secure said step in the operative and retractedpositions, said securing means being operable by the initial movement ofsaid moving means to release said step, and means associated with saidmoving means to constantly maintain said step in a substantiallyhorizontal position.

4. A retractable step for vehicles, comprising a support; a stepswingably carried by said support; reciprocating means for moving saidstep to and from the operative position; resilient means associated withsaid moving means to secure said step in the operative and retractedpositions, said securing means being operable by the initial movement ofsaid moving means to release said step from its secured position andcause it to move by the action of said resilient means.

5. A retractable step for vehicles, comprising a support; a step mountedon links pivotally carried by said support; a lever pivoted intermediateits ends on a pin carried by said support; a link interconnecting oneend of said lever to one of said pivoted step links; a reciprocablymounted locking bar interconnected with the other end of said lever; anoperating rod resiliently interconnected with said lever; a slide barcarried by said support; a link interconnecting the end oi saidoperating rod with said slide bar whereby the bar may be reciprocated;and pivoted pawls carried by said support and adapted to interengagesaid locking bar and slide bar, whereby said step vis secured in theoperative or retracted position, said pawls being so positioned thatthey are oscillated to the inoperative position by the initial movementof the operating lever to permit movement of said lever.

GLEN W. HAMILTON.

